Clasp for bracelets or the like



May 28, 946. R. M. ERF EYER I 2,401,145

CLASP FOR-BRACELETS OR'THELIKE Filed Jan. 18,. 1945 INVENTORI. BY

19 7" TO/ENEVS:

Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,401,145 CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Robert M. Erfizineyer, Milwaukee, Wis. Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,326

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in safety locking clasps for bracelets or the like.

Clasps now employed on certain jewelry items such as identification bracelets, watch bracelets and the like, are objectionable for a number of reasons. Those clasps which include spring catches have yieldable parts which are relatively light in weight and said parts are likely to break after a certain amount of use. Other clasps which rely merely on pivoted hooks are insecure because the hooks may become accidentally displaced or bent, resulting in the loss of the article of jewelry. The above mentioned troubles are particularly acute in connection with heavy bracelets such as identification bracelets where greater than normal strains are imposed upon the clasps.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved springless clasp wherein accidental release is positively prevented when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp which includes one or more mainhooks and an auxiliary hook in the form of a safety lock which so cooperates with the main hooks and with the engaged loop as to prevent accidental release when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a clasp which is neat and attractive in appearance, which may be made in more massive form than the usual type of clasp to eliminate the possibility of breakage, and which is otherwise well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved safety locking clasp for bracelets or the like,and all of its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the sameparts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the clasp in wearing position;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the upper edge of the assembled clasp as arranged in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the lower edge as arranged in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view looking at the upper edge of the clasp, with the loop member inlongitudinal section, illustrating the method of closing the clasp; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the principal parts of the clasp in separated condition.

' therefrom. A supporting link ID at the other end of the bracelet has an endedge 3B and is provided with projecting apertured ears ll through i which a pivot pin l2 extends, the pin being adjacent and parallel to the end edge 36.

A hook member l3 has its outer end portion hooked as at M and has its inner end portion solid as at l5 and formed with a bore IS. The solid portion l5 terminates in a shoulder I! which is spaced inwardly a required distance from the free end of the hooked portion l4 to provide an entrance space H! (see Fig. 5).. The thickness of the solid portion [5 is such that the front surface I9 is in the same plane as the front portion !4 on the other side of the gap [8.

While the invention has utility when used with one hook member only, it is preferred'to use two main hook members as much greater security is obtained. The other hook member 20 is reversely positioned with respect to hook member I3 as is clear from Figs. 1 and 5. The hook member 20 includes a hooked portion 2| at its outer end, and a solid portion 22 at its inner end ter minating in a shoulder 24. The solid portion is bored as at 23. The gap between the end of the hooked portion 2| and the shoulder 24 is desighooked portions I l and 2! of the main hook memnated by the numeral 25 in Fig. 5. It is apparent, therefore, that the construction, of the hook members l3 and 20 is identical. The two hook members are mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 1 with the pivot pin l2 extending through bores I 6 and23.

Positioned between the two hook members is a safety locking member 26. This member has a hooked outer end portion 2'! which is bent to project inwardly only about half as far as the bers I3 and 2B. The inner end portion of the safety locking member is relatively Wide so that the edge 28 (see Fig. 5) is in substantially the same plane as the outer edge of the hooked portion 2?. Inwardly of the edge 28 is a longitudinal slot 29 which is preferably nearly half as long as the entire safety locking member 25. This slot is in alignment with the space 30 within the hooked portion 27.

Secured to or formed integral with the transverse webbing 3| is a'locking lug 32 made in the form of a rectangular post, as illustrated. The post or looking lug 32 extends at right angles to the plane of the member 26 and projects both above and below said member. The post is so positioned and is of such cross-sectional size that it can readily enter Within the hooked portions l4 and 2| of the hook members 13 and 23. The outer edge portion 33 of the post is so spaced from the free end of the hooked portion 21 as to provide a gap 34 therebetween which is just wide enough to permit the entrance of the transverse bar 35 of the loo member 9. When in assembled position the pivot pin H! of the bracelet extends through the slot 29 of the safety locking member 26.

In order to lock the clasp, the supporting link Ill must first be bent at an anglewith respect to the hook member I3 and at an angle with respect to the safety locking member 26. The angle with respect to the latter member must be such as to permit inward movement of the member 6 to the position of Fig. 4 with the pivot pin i2 riding in the slot 29. If the parts were not at an angle to one another such inward movement would be prevented because the inner end of the safety locking member 26 would impinge against the edge 36 of the link l0. After the hook members l3 and have been swung to either side of the safety locking member 26 as is illustrated in Fig. 4, then the loop member 8 on the other end of the bracelet may be placed in the position of Fig. 4 with the transverse portion of the loop bearing against the edge 33 of the locking post 32. by swinging the loop member in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the safety lockin member 26 will be swung in the direction indicated by the arrow B into alignment with the hook member l3. This will, of course, bring the locking post 32 and transverse portion 35 of the loop within the confines of the hook member 43. While in this position the other hook member 213 is swung as indicated by the arrow C into registration with the members 13 and 26. such movement the free end 3'! of the hooked portion 2! will just clear the inner edge of the transverse portion 35 of the loop. Next, while holdin a l Of e parts in aligned position, the link 8 and loop member 9 are pulled toward the final position of Fig. 2. This brings the locking post 32 into overlapping relationship with the end 33 of hooked portion I l and also with respect tothe end 31 of the hooked portion 2 I.

pivot pin l2 to the position of Fig. 2 all of the parts are locked in assembled position because the locking post or projection 32 positively prevents the loop from becoming disengaged from the hooks l4 and 2 I. Also, movement of the looking post 32 is prevented because slideable movement of the safety locking member 26 on the pivot pin I2 is prevented by abutment against the end edge 35 of the bracelet link ill.

The locking post 32 may take various forms other than that illustrated, and may be in the nature of a plate as long as it has a free edge positioned to correspond with the free edge 33 of Fig. 5. Where only one main hook member is employed in a clasp it is preferable to utilize a hook member positioned such as the hook member 20, together with the safety locking member 26. It is, however, much more secure to utilize the two main hook members I3 and 26 in reverse positions, with the, safety locking member therebetween.

Then,

During f When the links and hooks have been straightened out on the plated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A clasp comprising a supporting link, a hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link, a safety locking member pivotally connected to said supporting link adjacent said hook member, means providing for longitudinal sliding movement of said safety locking member when the latter is disposed on its pivot at an angle to the supporting link, and a lug projecting from said safety locking member and engageable within said hook member to retain a loop member in engagement with the hook member when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

2. A clasp comprising a supporting link, a hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link, a safety locking member pivotally connected to said supporting link adjacent said hook member and having a hooked outer end, means providing for longitudinal sliding movement of said safety locking member when the latter is disposed on its pivot at an angle to the supporting link, and a lug projecting from said safety locking member and engageable within said hook member to retain a loop member in engagement with the hook member when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

3. A clasp comprising a supporting link having a pivot pin adjacent and parallel to an end edge,

- a hook member pivoted on the pin of said link, a

safety locking member pivoted on the pin of said supporting link adjacent said hook member, means including a longitudinal slot in the safety locking member through which said pivot pin extends to provide for longitudinal sliding movement of said safety locking member when the latter is disposed at such an angle with respect to the supporting link as to clear said end edge of the supporting link, and a lug projecting from said safety locking member and engageable within said hook member to retain a loop in engagement with the hook member when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

4. A clasp comprising a supporting link, a first hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing one side of the clasp, a second hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing the opposite side of the clasp, pivoted means slideably movable between said two hook members only when said means is in an abnormal pivoted condition, said pivoted means including locking projections simultaneously cooperable with the hooked portions of both hook members to retain a loop member therein when the clasp parts are in normal wearing position.

5. A clasp comprising a supporting link, a first hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing one side of the clasp, a second hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing the opposite side of the clasp, a safety locking member pivoted to said supporting link between said two hook members, means providing for longitudinal sliding movement of said safety locking member with respect to said hook members only when the safety locking member is swung to a predetermined position on its pivot, and locking means projecting from said safety locking member and cooperable with both of said hook members to retain a loop member therein when the clasp parts are in normal wearing position.

6. A clasp comprising a supporting link, a first hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing one side of the clasp, a second hook member pivotally connected to said supporting link and having a hooked portion facing the opposite side of the clasp, a safety locking member pivoted to said supporting link between said two hook members and having a hooked outer end, means providing for longitudinal sliding movement of said safety locking member when the latter is disposed at a predetermined angle to the supporting link, and locking means projecting from said safety looking member and cooperable with both of said hook members to retain a loop member in engagement with the hook members when the clasp is in normal wearing position.

7. A clasp comprising a supporting link having a. pivot pin adjacent and parallel to an end edge, a first hook member pivoted on said pin and having a hooked portion facing one side of the clasp, a second hook member pivoted on said pin and having a hooked ortion facing the opposite side of the clasp, a safety locking member pivoted on said pin of the supporting link and having a hooked outer end, means including a longitudinal slot in the safety locking member through which the pivot pin extends to provide 

